The Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes collaborates with more than 80 countries to ensure growth opportunities from trade and investment, to improve development prospects, and to enable their more effective participation in the global economy. The Division provides timely, targeted research and analysis, as well as innovative policy recommendations regarding development, trade and investment.

Through its analysis of African economic issues, UNCTAD aims to increase awareness of some of the most critical development problems of the continent, and to promote action at national, regional and international levels to support African development efforts with a view to enhancing the participation of African countries in the world economy.

News

The high-level segment of UNCTAD's Trade and Development Board today held in-depth discussions on "Growth with poverty reduction: What can Africa learn from other regions?” Reduced dependence on commodities and more industrialization are needed to reverse the pattern of growth that does not create enough jobs, panellists said.

The Honorable Robert K. Sichinga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia will be addressing the high-level segment of the 59th session of UNCTAD's Trade and Development Board on Monday, 17 September.

A new UNCTAD study just released sheds further light on the role of commodities in the economic growth and development of the 48 countries designated by the United Nations as least developed countries (LDCs).

With financial support from the One UN fund and technical support from UNCTAD, Tanzania has introduced an online tool to help investors and entrepreneurs gain easy access to up-to-date information on investment-related procedures. The system currently being implemented by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) is the "e-Regulations" programme developed by UNCTAD.​